Hugo Best Novelette

I don’t attend conventions and I don’t read SF magazines so usually my interest in this award category is quite low. However, in the last couple of years those responsible for publishing the nominated stories have increasingly made them available to the public at large. This year all the stories are available and Torque Control have been running a discussion so although I’m still not voting I do feel informed and involved for the first time. Here is my ranking with links to the commentary:

1) ‘The Gambler’ by Paolo Bacigalupi
2) ‘Pride and Prometheus’ by John Kessel
3) ‘Shoggoths in Bloom’ by Elizabeth Bear
4) ‘The Ray-Gun: A Love Story’ by James Alan Gardner
5) ‘Alastair Baffle’s Emporium of Wonders’ by Mike Resnick

It is nice to feel like part of the community and I’m hoping to take part in the follow up discussions as well. Of course, if Resnick wins I will feel a lot less like I am part of the community…

‘Feedback’ by Robert E. Vardeman

There is just something about telepaths that is so desperately outmoded, so 1950s. Even when – as in this story – they get caught up in a sex/death feedback loop they still seem quaint. It doesn’t help that the background to the story is underdeveloped and hence unconvincing

Quality: **
Shiftiness: **

I am now halfway through Redshift and although I wouldn’t say it was a chore it is certainly a long way from being a pleasure.